Coronavirus: WHO declares global health emergency

The World Health Organization has declared Coronavirus a global emergency as the outbreak continues to spread outside China in a rapid pace. At least 213 people have died in China, with almost 10,000 cases of the virus."The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The concern is that it could spread to countries with weaker health systems Dr. Tedros described the virus as an "unprecedented outbreak" that has been met with an "unprecedented response".  

Many countries have already urged their citizens not to visit China, while some have banned entry for travellers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan where the first case of Coronavirus was reported. WHO has previously declared five global public health emergencies. This includes Swine flu, Polio, Zika, and Ebola. A confirmed case in Tibet means the virus has reached every region in mainland China. According to the country's National Health Commission, 9,692 cases have tested positive.The central province of Hubei, where nearly all deaths have occurred, is in a state of lockdown. The province of 60 million people is home to Wuhan, the heart of the outbreak.The city has effectively been sealed off and China has put numerous transport restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus.